HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: Pongracz, Bernstein picked to win states

By
Rick Fortenbaugh, The Trentonian

Monday, March 4, 2013

It’s an abbreviated wrestling column today because we are already working hard on next week’s season-ending Slammies. The All-Area and All-Colonial Valley Conference wrestling teams will also appear next week. In the meantime, here our picks to win state championships on Sunday in Atlantic City.

106: Bergen Catholic super frosh Nick Suriano may be seeded No. 2 in his bracket, but he is ranked No. 1 in the country.

113: This will be interesting with no unbeaten wrestlers in the bracket. Don Bosco’s Luis Gonzalez is the safest choice.

120: If Bound Brook’s Craig DeLaCruz can get through Region V, he can also get through the state bracket.

126: Mike Pongracz of Delaware Valley primed to strike gold.

132: South Plainfield’s Scott DelVecchio goes back to back.

138: South Plainfield’s Anthony Ashnault wraps up undefeated career with another final win over Hunterdon Central’s Gary Dinmore.

145: Deep weight, but B.J. Clagon of Toms River South is something else.

152: Camden Catholic’s Chad Walsh has that winning funk.

160: Roxbury’s Dillon Artigliere over East Brunswick’s Jonathan Schleifer in an excellent final.

170: Voorhees’ Jadaen Bernstein has Eric Hall in his corner.

182: Johnny Sebastian of Bergen Catholic. Nuff said?

195: Razohnn Gross of Don Bosco. Case closed.

220: Would you want to wrestle Delsea’s Bryan Dobzanski?

Hvy: Roy Lucas of St. Joe’s of Hammonton makes it two champs for Region VIII.

NO RESPECTThe NJSIAA Coaches top 25 poll is out and it’s interesting to note Delaware Valley is 25th and Hopewell Valley does not appear at all. While it’s true it was very silly and ignorant for another poll to have Hopewell in its top 20, didn’t Hopewell beat DelVal in a dual match and didn’t it just finish ahead of DelVal at districts.

MERCER OUTLOOKAs the reader can see below, the seeding and pairings are out for the state tourney. Looking at several on the Mercer front, Trenton’s Maaziah Bethea (145) is in the best spot because he has two winnable matches before running into B.J. Clagon.

Should he win, Hopewell Valley’s Mike Markulec (220) will face Holy Cross’ Mauro Correnti (fifth last year) in the second round. Lawrence’s Gordon Wolf also has a tough path. To reach the semis, Wolf would probably have to beat Howell’s Ben Esposito (38-1) and South Plainfield’ DelVecchio (40-0).